600 HERNIiE, ETC. 



he "became very much emaciated. During the time Mr. Thom- 

 son attended him he showed no symptoms of disease, save a 

 slight attack of gripes. Before death the wound became reduced 

 to the size of a quill, discharging white mucus, but no faeces. 

 He was allowed only two pints of water a day, with some pea- 

 meal, with a small quantity of hay. When Mr Thomson first 

 saw the horse, he gave a clyster of water-gruel, which occa- 

 sioned much inconvenience, " seemingly by emptying the pos- 

 terior bowels too much, as flatus passed, seemingly from the 

 orifice of the anus, and he worked like a pair of bellows for four 

 hours." Mr. Thomson then injected a solution of sulph. zinc at 

 the orifice, which caused griping pains for a short time; but 

 they did not recur, although this was afterwards frequently 

 repeated. 



Analogous to the above operation in principle, but simpler in 

 apphcation, is one that has been practised with great success by 

 Mr. Pattie, Yoker, Glasgow. His account, in the Veterinarian 

 for 1836, of his mode of operating is — " The colt is not cast, nor 

 submitted to any restraint beyond that of having his head held. 

 The hernial tumour is emptied by forcing its contents into the 

 the belly ; the loose integument forming the pouch is gathered 

 into the left hand, while the right surrounds it by a ligature 

 placed as closely as possible to the abdominal parietes, and 

 drawn sufiiciently tight to interrupt the circulation. On the 

 second day there is considerable tumefaction around the incar- 

 cerated integument, which also in a slight degree partakes of 

 the engorgement, feels cold, and often clammy and moist. When 

 the ligature has not been sufficiently tight, or the pouch so large 

 as to require strong compression for arresting the circulation, it 

 is hot and tender. In all cases more than one ligature is neces- 

 sary. Generally on the third day the first cord is loose. The 

 cu'cle it embraces has been reduced , partly by absorption and 

 partly by incision, and there is no longer any compression. If 

 neglected after this, the tuR.our rapidly increases in size, and is 

 attached by a neck whose diameter is limited by the ligature. 

 It is necessary, therefore, to see the patient twice or thrice a 

 week to renew the ligature. The second, third, or fourth, should 

 80 many be required, must be placed above that which preceded, 

 and close to the abdomen. They relax in from one to tlu"ee 

 days, and are then useless, save for the purpose, of supporting 



